Shunt for use in disorders of fluid accumulation

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for intrauterine shunting of fluid accumulation in organs. The barb at the proximal end of the disclosed shunt helps anchor the shunt in place, easing its placement and decreasing its dislodgement in-vivo, while the pigtail loop at the distal end maintains the shunt in place within an organ of a fetus. The stiffer shunt prevents occlusion from kinking and external pressure. Both of these properties may have a significant impact on shunt surgery and outcomes.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A shunt comprising:
 a hollow tube having an intermediary section;   a curved pigtail at a distal end of the hollow tube, wherein said distal curved pigtail comprises a plurality of perforations, said distal curved pigtail perpendicularly positioned with respect to said intermediary section;   a curved pigtail at a proximal end of the hollow tube, wherein said proximal curved pigtail comprises a plurality of perforations, said proximal curved pigtail perpendicularly positioned with respect to said intermediary section; and   one or more barbed ends placed between the intermediary section and the proximal end.   
     
     
         3 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein the intermediary section has a length of between about 2.5 centimeters (cm) and about 4.5 cm. 
     
     
         4 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein each of the two curved pigtails comprise one loop of at least 280 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the two curved pigtails comprise a full loop and a half loop. 
     
     
         6 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein one of the two curved pigtails has a clockwise orientation and the other has a counterclockwise orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein each of the two curved pigtails have a same clockwise orientation. 
     
     
         8 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein the shunt is a fetal shunt, a GI shunt, or a urology shunt. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein a tensile strength of one of the two curved pigtails is significantly softer than a tensile strength of the remaining of the shunt. 
     
     
         11 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein said intermediary section does not have any perforations. 
     
     
         12 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein the hollow tube has an unstretched length no longer than about 7 cm. 
     
     
         13 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein each of the two curved pigtails has a plurality of perforations. 
     
     
         16 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more barbed ends positioned between the intermediary section and one of the curved pigtails are two barbed ends defining a proximal end of the shunt. 
     
     
         25 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more barbed ends are two barbed ends symmetrically placed between the intermediary section and both of the curved pigtails. 
     
     
         26 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more barbed ends comprise at least two barbed ends placed between the intermediary section and one or both of the curved pigtails. 
     
     
         27 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein a tensile strength of the two curved pigtails is significantly softer than a tensile strength of the remaining of the shunt. 
     
     
         28 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . The shunt of  claim 10 , wherein the softer curved pigtail is at a proximal end, and wherein the softer proximal pigtail prevents organ damage. 
     
     
         62 . The shunt of  claim 61 , wherein the softer curved pigtail at a distal end remains stiffer, and wherein the stiffer distal pigtail reduces dislodgement into the body. 
     
     
         63 . The shunt of  claim 24 , wherein the barbed ends at the proximal end facilitate the anchoring of the shunt in place, easing the placement and decreasing the dislodgement, while the curved pigtail at the distal end facilitates the maintenance of the shunt in place. 
     
     
         64 . The shunt of  claim 10 , wherein the softer curved pigtail is at a distal end, and wherein the softer distal pigtail reduces the risk of entanglement by hand or finger movement from the fetus.